Chapter 798: Avatar
Tonight, the “Ergonomic Auxiliary System Institute,” which focuses on “Cyborg Research” in the 20th School District, welcomed an uninvited guest.
A woman in pale yellow pajamas was moving brazenly through the Institute’s corridors in a wheelchair.
After seeing this figure, who clearly did not belong to the Institute’s internal staff, through the surveillance cameras, the security guard in the monitoring room immediately notified his patrolling colleagues nearby to investigate.
“Hey, you! Madam, how did you get in?” The patrolling security guard immediately found the woman in the wheelchair and asked loudly.
“How rude, I am a visitor,” the woman said calmly and composedly, “Take me to the Isolation Room immediately.”
“Visitor? Do you have an invitation letter?” The security guard did not dare to be careless and quickly asked.
“Invitation letter? Is that really necessary?” The woman in the wheelchair asked with a smile, “Is there any need to be so serious about this?”
The security guard frowned and thought for a moment, then, as if possessed, nodded: “It seems… that is indeed the case. I wish you a pleasant visit.”
“You haven’t told me where the Isolation Room is yet.” The woman in the wheelchair spoke again.
“It’s on the sixteenth floor, but I don’t have permission to patrol the higher floors, so I’m sorry I can’t lead the way,” the security guard said.
“I see,” the woman in the wheelchair nodded, not pressing the issue, and then pointed to the surveillance camera in the corner, “Then please tell your colleagues to stop doing such meaningless things.”
“Okay, I understand,” the security guard said without hesitation, “We will stop monitoring you, Madam.”
“Mm, thank you for your understanding.” The woman in the wheelchair smiled and nodded.
A few minutes later, the woman maneuvered her wheelchair all the way to the sixteenth floor, with a male and a female Researcher in white coats following behind her.
Although they didn’t say much, these two Researchers looked as if it was only natural, accompanying her on both sides of the wheelchair, as if they were indeed accompanying a distinguished guest visiting the Institute.
“This is it,” stopping in front of an explosion-proof door at the end of the corridor, the woman in the wheelchair turned and said, “Open the door.”
“But…” The Researcher on the left still seemed to hesitate.
But the female Researcher on the other side unhesitatingly took out her ID card and stepped forward to operate it.
Seeing this, the Male Researcher simply gave up thinking and followed suit, operating it together.
The Isolation Room is strictly managed; the explosion-proof door can only be opened if two staff members simultaneously swipe their cards to operate it.
The woman in the wheelchair nodded slightly. For an Institute of this level, such a level of protective measures could already be considered strict.
However, this was, after all, just a room for detaining “ordinary humans.”
If the existence inside didn’t cooperate actively, this so-called “Isolation Room” probably wouldn’t have any effect at all, would it?
“You’ve worked hard,” the woman in the wheelchair said politely, “Please wait for me at the door for a while; it will be quick.”
The two Researchers nodded, then actually stood at the door like gatekeepers, one on the left and one on the right.
The wheelchair rolled into the room.
The occupant of the Isolation Room turned to look, and she was not surprised by the sudden arrival of the strange woman.
“We finally meet, Caochi Liangzi.” The woman in the wheelchair seemed not to notice the peculiar and special nature of the “girl” in front of her, smiling as usual, “I am Teacher Pathology who contacted you on the forum.”
“Don’t call me by that name.”
The girl in the room said: “I am not Caochi Liangzi.”
“That may be so, but a person in this world must have a name after all,” Kihara Pathology’s expression remained unchanged.
“Person…” The girl suddenly spread her arms, and the white coat on her body slid to the ground, “In your eyes, am I still human?”
The “girl” in front of her—or rather, a humanoid robot with only “the outline of a girl’s body”—quietly looked at the woman in the wheelchair at the door.
In the dim room, after shedding her covering clothes, the girl’s body emitted a faint metallic luster.
A pair of eyes flickered with a dark red light—which were actually zooming cameras.
Just as this “girl” herself said—in her current state, could she still be considered “human”?
“Why dwell on appearance and form of existence?” Kihara Pathology’s smile remained unchanged, “Do you know who I am?”
“Kihara.”
“Exactly, exactly, I am Kihara Pathology. You are also a Researcher, so it’s not strange that you know Our names.” Kihara Pathology nodded repeatedly, “So you must also understand that in Our eyes, the definition of ‘human’ is not so narrow.”
“Hmph.” The girl scoffed, “In the eyes of your Kihara, all humans are just experimental subjects—from this perspective, there is indeed no difference.”
Kihara Pathology was unconcerned by her sarcasm, instead smiling even more brightly: “You see, possessing emotions, and subconsciously criticizing me from the perspective of a normal human—you are undoubtedly human, Caochi Liangzi.”
“I am not Caochi Liangzi.” The girl shook her head again, “I am just an ‘avatar’ created by Caochi Liangzi.”
“None of that matters,” Kihara Pathology said indifferently, “I didn’t come here specifically to debate with you.”
“You said you could fulfill my wish,” Caochi Liangzi’s avatar said, “Because you are Kihara, I agreed to meet.”
“Don’t worry, since I’ve gone to the trouble of coming here, I certainly won’t disappoint you.” Kihara Pathology patted her wheelchair, “It wasn’t easy for me to make this trip. Tell me your wish.”
“I already mentioned it on the forum,” Caochi Liangzi’s avatar said.
“I trust face-to-face direct communication more than online forums,” Kihara Pathology said, “And I also said, didn’t I, that I’m not a kind person doing charity.”
“I understand,” the avatar nodded, saying in a calm tone, “This is a transaction. Tell me, what do you want me to do? Within my capabilities, I will help.”
“Don’t worry, I am always fair and just; I won’t make things difficult for you, Caochi Liangzi,” Kihara Pathology said.
“I am not Caochi Liangzi, don’t make me repeat it a fourth time.”
“Alright, alright,” Kihara Pathology spread her hands, “But you must have a title, right? You can’t just be called ‘avatar,’ can you?”
“I don’t mind,” the avatar said, “My existence won’t last long, so a name is meaningless.”
“It seems you are serious,” Kihara Pathology also became serious, “Seriously wanting to die.”
“Yes,” the avatar nodded, “I want a method to completely kill myself; specifically, I need to eliminate ‘my’ soul.”
